Page 22 of Bellini Born

His lips drew into a thin line. “I can’t let you past the gate without clearance, miss.”

“Well, how do I get that? It’s really important that I speak with him.”

Shaking his head, the security guard let out a heavy breath. “Name?”

“Summer Reynolds.”

“You got an ID that matches?”

“Of course.” I dug into my purse to retrieve my driver’s license before handing it over.

The man’s eyes scanned my identification, lifting briefly to confirm my face matched the picture printed on the laminated card.

With a nod, he returned my license.

I was still busy fitting it back into the slot of my wallet when I heard him speak. “I’ve got a Summer Reynolds at the gate.” My head lifted to find he was talking into a cell phone. “Says she’s responsible for saving the boss’s girl.”

There was a beat of silence where he listened to whomever was on the other end of the line.

Grunting, the guard jerked his chin toward the gate, which had begun to open. “Straight to the door. Housekeeper will let you in.”

“Thank you.” I ducked my head in gratitude before hustling my ass up the long driveway.

My fist was poised to knock, but it met nothing but air as the front door was pulled open suddenly.

Startled, I stumbled back a step and let out a surprised yelp.

A middle-aged woman, with gray threading through her pitch-black hair pulled into a severe bun, appeared.

“This way, please,” she commanded, turning on her heel, the expectation clear that I was meant to follow.

Timidly, I crossed the threshold, shutting the heavy door behind me. Then I hastened my steps to keep up with the housekeeper, who didn’t show any signs of slowing down to wait for me.

I caught up to her just in time to be shown into a massive library. My eyes grew large as I took in the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining the room. And like in some fairytale dream, there was a rolling ladder affixed to them.

“Mr. Bellini is currently in a meeting. If you could please wait here, I’ll fetch you when he becomes available.”

“Sure, okay.” I tried to tamp down my excitement that I’d be left alone in this reader’s paradise.

“Is there anything I can get you in the meantime? A beverage, perhaps?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if the courtesy of quenching my thirst would be considered a “debt” that would need to be repaid in this strange world I’d found myself tangled up in, but instead, I shook my head.

“No, thank you.”

“Very well.” The latching of the door behind me signaled her departure.

With tentative steps, I moved toward the nearest bookshelf. My fingers grazed along the exposed spines, tracing the gold-foiled titles of some of the classics before moving on to a row of encyclopedias. Eventually, I reached an entire shelf containing children’s books, ranging anywhere from board books to picture books to chapter books.

When I saw a copy of my favorite childhood book, I couldn’t help but slip it from the shelf and carry it over to one of the plush chairs placed strategically throughout the room. Kicking off my shoes, I tucked my feet beneath me and settled in to reread the familiar story.

My lips curved into a smile as I scanned the words I knew by heart. I found comfort in the tale about the orphaned redheaded girl sent to live on a farm in eastern Canada, only to discover upon arrival that the pair of elderly siblings had been expecting a boy instead. When they decided to keep the girl, she found herself constantly in trouble, and her antics were beyond hilarious to read.

Lost in the fictional world, snickering over the account of Anne breaking a slate over Gilbert’s head, I nearly jumped out of my skin when a voice said, “Mr. Bellini will see you now.”

Placing a hand over my racing heart, I took a few steadying breaths before standing. Closing the book, I replaced it on the shelf in its designated spot and turned to follow the housekeeper.

Like before, she hadn’t waited to make sure I was with her before heading toward her destination.